Jacinda Ardern responds to the Government’s claims for the Rugby Championship defeat against Australia

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has responded to claims that government quarantine regulations are to blame for Australia securing the Rugby Championship over New Zealand.

This comes after New Zealand Rugby Players Association head Rob Nichol said on Friday that the government’s reluctance to allow visiting teams to train effectively once they arrived, led to the tournament would move through Tasmania, even though the governing body Sanzaar had previously indicated New Zealand. it was the preferred destination.

the Herald revealed for the first time that New South Wales had pinched New Zealand’s four-nation tournament and that it would be held from November 7 to December 12.

The first two matches of the Bledisloe Cup will be played in New Zealand on October 17 and 24.

According to Nichol, the need to isolate himself without training for a set number of days, and restrictions around bubble size thereafter were the main sticking points that tipped the tournament in Australia’s favor.

While South Africa, Australia and Argentina were expected to travel to New Zealand with squads of more than 45, they would only be allowed to train in bubbles no larger than 25.

“The biggest challenge by far is that they would have come with 45 players plus the team management and when they arrived in quarantine conditions from New Zealand, as explained to us, the first three days would have to be spent alone in hotel rooms.” . then they would have to return a negative Covid test, “Nichol told the Herald.

“Ultimately, the quarantine requirements imposed by the New Zealand government, frankly, made it impossible for South Africa, Argentina and Australia to come and prepare properly.

“They will not be able to train together as a team, and will be asked to play test matches after two weeks of quarantine.”

When asked about reports that Australia had secured the tournament prior to the official announcement, Ardern said the Government had worked hard to secure it.

“We put a lot of effort into that offering, we worked very hard to meet the needs of the tournament and the players, even creating a regimen where they could be training within three days of their arrival in New Zealand,” Ardern said. “If we are not successful, I would say it will be the result of being caught up in Sanzaar’s politics.

“The arrangements we proposed as part of the offer included training while we were in quarantine. We worked very hard with [Ministry of] Health and the tournament organizers to operate in a way that takes care of people’s health and does not endanger the tournament. It would mean that they would have been able to train within three days of their arrival. “

Ardern also supported the training facilities to be used.

“New Zealand has very successfully hosted tournaments of this nature on a larger scale before,” he said. “And I have every confidence that the facilities we proposed were actually up to par and the ability to train within three days of arrival was an important part of that terrain as well.”

Sports Minister Grant Robertson said the isolation proposal would “protect the tournament” should a player become infected with Covid-19.

“If a player falls with Covid, he runs the risk of infecting his entire team and endangering the Rugby Championship, as we would have isolated cases on the third day,” he said.

“We still think this was a very competitive proposition, especially since we have the best prospect of being able to have full stadiums for the games.”

The successful Australian launch is believed to have targeted 50 to 75 percent audience capacity.

However, according to Nichol, these quarantine rules meant that Australia was a much more attractive option.

“It’s not just about playing a one-off game, it’s six games in five weeks. That’s not acceptable for an international team. Unfortunately, New Zealand’s quarantine rules, when it comes to these sports teams, just meant no it was going to be possible, “he said.

“Compare that to Australia and our players can get on a plane, land, they can immediately train and prepare together as a full team and they can play a test match the day after coming out of quarantine.

“It is an incredibly attractive option compared to the New Zealand system. Ultimately, that’s what influenced it.”

The All Blacks will travel to Australia after the Bledisloe trials, probably in Auckland and Wellington, where they could stay for up to 10 weeks and will have to self-quarantine upon their return home.

That would mean the All Blacks players, several of whom have young children, will be in quarantine on Christmas Day.